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San Luis Obispo man arrested on suspicion of torture

As of press time, 33-year-old San Luis Obispo resident Timothy John Hayes was in jail after being arrested on Sept. 8 for a variety of suspected crimes, including torture and assault with a deadly weapon.

At 11:30 p.m. that night, police responded to a call that took them to the Chevron Station at Santa Rosa Street and Foothill Road. There, they found a 27-year-old woman who reported escaping from a horrific scene. The officers’ report said she had tape tangled in her hair and her body was covered in burn marks, lacerations, scratches, bruises, and extreme swelling; she alleged that Hayes held her against her will for approximately two hours, during which time he bound her in heavy masking tape and assaulted her with a knife, scissors, and a pool cue, and burned her with kitchen utensils.

She said that she was eventually able to escape, and fled in her vehicle to safety.

Officers reported that when they arrived at Hayes’ residence on Jeffrey Street, he was inside the house and appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance; detectives obtained a search warrant and reported finding multiple pieces of evidence corroborating the alleged assault. They also found a .22 caliber handgun and a high-powered assault rifle.